The Water Leadership Institute (WLI) program is aimed at educating, training, and providing opportunities that enable developing and emerging leaders to build strong lasting relationships within the water industry. This intensive program allows participants the opportunity to engage in management training, and leadership development through a blended learning approach that includes the examination of complex […]

By Seth Brown, stormwater program and policy manager, Water Environment Federation On Jan. 3, a Federal Court in Virginia ruled that runoff and other “nonpollutants” could not be used as surrogates for pollutants to meet a total maximum daily load (TMDL). However, there is significant misinformation or misunderstanding of the case. For example, referring to […]

The new wastewater discharge permit issued to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is the first in the U.S. to mandate green infrastructure. The permit requires that green infrastructure not only be used to capture 3.8 million L (1 million gal) of stormwater by 2013, but an additional 3.8 million L of capacity must be […]

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) Technical Practice Committee is looking for reviewers for a special publication to be titled Green Infrastructure Implementation. The publication will provide actionable information that promotes implementation of green infrastructure. It will identify obstacles and provide approaches to overcome these barriers at the programmatic level. This book is intended to work […]

In early January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) settled a long-standing lawsuit with the Association of Home Builders, Utility Water Act Group, and Wisconsin Builders Association by agreeing to withdraw the numeric turbidity limit for stormwater runoff from construction sites. According to the petitioners, a numeric limit would have cost stakeholders $10 billion per […]

The White House Council on Environmental Quality announced its support for green infrastructure in a Jan. 18 blog, stating that the administration will be prioritizing smart infrastructure to create jobs and build a strong future for U.S. cities. The message acknowledges the cost-effectiveness and water quality benefits of green infrastructure, as well as additional benefits, […]

Many cities face a costly process and unrealistic timelines when required under the Clean Water Act to eliminate sewer overflows. However, due to continuing dialogue with local governments, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed a memo Jan. 18 agreeing to clarify its method for analyzing a municipality’s financial capability when developing compliance schedules for […]

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure released its oversight plan on Jan. 23. On the top of the list for the Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment are funding issues for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. As such, a key priority for the full committee is reauthorizing the Water Resources Development […]

On Jan. 17, American Rivers announced new guidance — Permitting Green Infrastructure: A Guide to Improving Municipal Stormwater Permits and Protecting Water Quality. The guide is designed for community and watershed advocates, and examines the elements and regulatory language of successful stormwater permits from across the U.S. It also includes resources that can help watershed […]

On Jan. 18, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced seven new fact sheets on low-impact development (LID) for state and local decision-makers. The series is intended to address common LID concerns and barriers, such as cost, aesthetics, effectiveness, and maintenance. Also included are fact sheets on the benefits of LID, distinguishing LID from other techniques, […]

Storm Events

WEFTEC®, the Water Environment Federation’s Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference, is the largest conference of its kind in North America and offers water quality professionals from around the world with the best water quality education[...]